External articles (7)

The European Court of Justice has set back efforts to privatize ambulance services. “In Germany, state and local governments are responsible for organizing the emergency services. In many cases, they appoint non-profit organizations such as the Red Cross or the Maltese Relief Service to bring emergency patients to the hospital. Often these contracts are awarded without Europe-wide tenders.” The ECJ upheld this practice, which was being challenged by the private, for-profit Falck group of companies from Denmark. In the United States, privatization of public ambulance services has created serious problems.

Public sector trade unions will demonstrate actively across Europe on 7 April, World Health Day, in the second action day against commercialisation, market-isation and privatisation of health care. World Health Day has been “chosen by health users and workers, citizen collectives, trade unions and NGOs to demonstrate against Health commodification.”

Recent research looks into the problem of corruption in ‘public private partnerships’ in emerging markets. Most previous studies “analyse projects in developed economies and the few that are focused on emerging economies mostly neglect Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs). This is a shortcoming, given that CEECs constitute an increasingly attractive region for investors and have thus witnessed a significant increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) flows in recent times.”

This PSIRU report, commissioned by EPSU, highlights the many failures of liberalisation – prices have increased for consumers by as much as double in the past 10 years, a quarter of jobs have been lost in the energy sector, and public monopolies have been replaced by powerful private cartels – and also offers alternatives for the future.

This report contains a comprehensive collection of facts and figures on social infrastructure and social services and the related financing needs. Based on the conclusions and results, the report formulates concrete recommendations aimed at enhancing current financing tools as well as for future schemes and
initiatives in the social sector.

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